Device for measuring and extracting coffee from a can



Oct. 22, 1957 J. WILLIAMS DEVICE FOR MEASURING AND EXTRACTING COFFEE FROM A CAN Filed July 6, 1953 ATTORNE United States DEVICE FOR MEASURING AND EXTRACTING COFFEE FROM A CAN This invention relates to a device for measuring and extracting coffee from a can.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a dispensing medium associated with the can and adapted to be moved from an internal position in the can to an external position relative to the top of the can for readily dispensing a predetermined amount of coflee.

Further objects of the invention are the employment of means to anchor the dispenser in a fixed position relative to the top of the can, means for raising the dispenser through an aperture formed in the top of the can to retain the dispenser in a raised position, and the utilization of a key or the like prying medium to initiate the raising of the dispenser.

A further object of the invention is the production of a device of the character described that is simple in construction, economical to manufacture, positive in operation, strong, durable, and highly efiicient and serviceable in use.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification and wherein for the purpose of illustration like numerals designate like parts throughout the same,

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the device constructed in accordance with my invention,

Fig. 2 is a similar view with the cover removed and showing the dispenser in an operative position,

Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical section through the invention, the view being taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1, and

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view through the dispenser and the can, the view being taken on line 44 of Fig. 2.

In the accompanying drawing wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral 5 designates a can of coffee equipped with the conventional lid 6. Mounted on said lid is a tear strip 7 of pliable metal adapted to be actuated by a slotted key 8 to uncover an opening 9 formed in the can. It will be noted that the one end of the tear strip is equipped with a tab 10 which is received in the slot of the key when the tearing of the strip is initiated. The means for dispensing the coitee comprises an elongated container designated, as a whole, by the numeral 12 of a substantially square configuration, which container is preferably made of a pliable plastic material. The said container includes a front wall 13, a rear wall 14, and sides 15 and 16. It will be noted that the container is opened at its top and bottom for the passage therethrough of the cofiee to be dispensed. To complete the structure of the container, I have provided a horizontal extension 21 on the upper extremity of the wall 14.

The means for holding a predetermined amount of cofiee includes in its construction a measuring rotor 22 equipped with a central horizontal shaft 23 having a slotted end 25 in which an operating key 26 is adapted to be received, after the key has been detached from its soldered position on top of the can. It will be noted that curved scoop elements 27 and 28 are carried by the shaft atent O and adapted to contain therein the coifee to be dispensed. These scoops, upon the actuation of the key, are adapted to rotate over internal walls 28 and 29 that are integrally formed with the container. The curvature of the scoops conforms to the curvature of the walls. Since the scoops snugly abut the said walls, the entrance of any cofiee between the said walls and scoop elements will be prevented.

When it is desired to open the can, it is only necessary to insert the tab 10 in the slot of the key 8. Manual rotation of the key will cause the tear strip to be removed to thus expose the opening in the lid of the can. This key, with the tear strip thereon, is then discarded.

A handle of the key 26 is then inserted under the eX- tension 21 and the container is then raised until it assumes the position illustrated in Fig. 4 of the drawing. Due to the pliable nature of the nubs 19 and 20, they are readily depressed to thus pass by the portion of the can lid adjacent to the can opening. These nubs after passing the opening again expand and cooperate with the flanges 18 to retain the container in an upright vertical position against danger of accidental displacement from the top of the can.

A rotation of the rotor will efiect the dispensing of the predetermined amount of coffee from one of the scoops. When an additional amount of cofiee is desired, it is only necessary to again actuate the measuring rotor and a new supply of coffee will be received in the scoop so that this amount can then be dispensed.

The upper flanges 17 initially rest on the can lid and thus serve as a means for suspending the container 12 from the lid thereof. The lower flanges 18, when the device is in a raised position (see Fig. 4) are adapted to contact the bottom surface of the lid, adjacent to the aperture therein. These flanges cooperate with the nubs 19 and 20 to prevent accidental displacement of the container from the can and serve to temporarily lock the said container to the lid, due to the fact that the nubs are in contact with that portion of the top of the lid that surrounds the opening in the lid. As before stated the lower flanges are in contact with the bottom surface of the lid.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same and that various changes relative to the shape, size, material and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claim.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

In combination with a cofiee can having an apertured lid and a tear strip mounted on the lid over the aperture, an open-ended container positioned within the can and underlying the aperture of the lid, said container being equipped with upper and lower flanges and a pair of pliable nubs positioned above the lower flanges, said upper flanges serving as a means for suspending the container within the can from the lid thereof, the lower flanges cooperating with the pliable nubs and retaining the container to the lid adjacent the aperture therein, and a rotor revolvably mounted within said container and being equipped with a pair of scoop-shaped members for retaining therein a supply of cofiee and means for actuating said rotor for dispensing the coffee from the scoopshaped members.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 555,032 Alexander Feb. 18, 1896 1,165,907 Riddle Dec. 28, 1915 1,393,331 Wilson Oct. 11, 1921 1,438,595 Hale "Dec. 12, 1922. 

